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"'It' has never been. Do not be defiled. 'It' is indeed the great clarity."
That is Dogen's teaching. Bodhidharma said, " Self-nature is inconceivably
wondrous. In the intrinsically pure dharma, not allowing the mind to
become dark is called the precept of refraining from using intoxicants.”
Instead of stating, " Refrain from using intoxicants," We say, " Proceed
clearly. Do not cloud the mind.” It is a broader statement. How do we cloud
the mind? There are many Ways.
During the seventies, when Zen first came to America, everybody was
getting stoned on grass and tripping on psychedelics. For some
adventurous users it was a rush to drop acid and to go sit at the local Zen
center. Very soon, people were confusing tripping and samadhi. Yet the
difference between tripping and samadhi is staggering. Trying to do zazen
while you are stoned or drunk is like tryinig to swim the English Channel
with an anchor tied around your neck. It cannot be done. The drugs do
precisely the opposite of what samadhi does. Samadhi is a single pointed
awareness and the falling away of body and mind. Pot activates and
!2
The Buddha said that it is wrong to cloud the mind. Ignorance means to
not understand the nature of the self. Ignorance means no light. Drugs and
alcohol numb or hyperexcite the mind and extinguish the inherent light
that is there. We see through eyes that are blinded by selfishness, self-
centeredness, and chemical confusion.
Traditionally, this precept said, "Do not introduce intoxicants. Do not make
others defile themselves. This is the great awareness." In other words, do
not enable others to introduce intoxicants, thereby defiling themselves. Do
not come bearing liquor." If liquor is not introduced, it cannot be
consumed.
There are all kinds of intoxicants. How we understand ourself - all of our
ideas based on the dualism of self and other - can be considered
intoxicants. They cause the greatest darkness. From the absolute point of
view, of course, there is no dualism. There isn't any way to cloud the mind.
But in the realm of difference and functioning in the world, there surely is.
Just look at the number of deaths caused by people driving while
intoxicated.